237033 Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016 https://archive.org/details/b24883293 GENERAL SIR HENRY WYLIE NORMAN. K.C.B., C.I.E., GOVERNOR OF JAMAICA. So 092 0 JAMAICAC. AT THE HiOnsriDon^r, 1886 . “ Jamaica's beauteous isle and genial clime I sing. Attend, ye Britons ! nor disdain Th' adventurous muse to verdant vales that soars, And radiant realms, beyond th' Atlantic wave ; Ardent to gather for her Albion's broiu A tropic wreath, green with immortal spring." Bryan Edwards. Executive Commissioner in London : SIR AUGUSTUS J. ADDERLEY, K.C.M.G. ROYAL COMMISSIONER. Honorary Commissioner: C. WASHINGTON EYES, Esq. Commission at Jamaica: Rev. Dr. Robb, D.D., Chairman. Dr. J. C. PuiLLipro. Hon. H. J. Kemble. Hon. C. B. Mosse, C.B. &c. R. H. B. Hotchkin, Esq., M.A. Tiie Rev. John Radcliffe. II. Priest, Secretary. a PRINTED BY BPOTTISWOODE AND CO., NEW-STREET SQUARE LONDON 15 z [Z) . Wellcome Library for the History and Understanding of Medicine INTRODUCTION. - - •••• •••• When practical arrangements for the representation of the Colonies at the Exhibition were being made, the West Indian industries were in a state of considerable depression, and it was doubtful whether any such appearance could be made as would be entirely satisfactory in itself or pleasurable to remember. But the encouragement given by His Boyal Highness the Prince of Wales, who is ever ready to view with kindly consideration all the efforts towards progress made in any portion of the outlying dominions of his mother, the Queen- Empress, induced the West India Colonies to come to the front, and to avail themselves of that which might be truly called the opportunity of a century. The visit of the Boyal Princes, sons of the Prince of Wales, also tended to strengthen the wish to be well represented in that visit gave prominence the old country ; and when the record of to the feelings of pride in the victories of Bodney and other gallant sailors and soldiers who fought for England at a time when the West Indian seas were the arena of the great nations of Europe, the desire of being recognised as having an important share in the glorious past of England became more intensified. At the same time, more practical considerations conduced to the same end. These colonies produce articles of food and luxury which the world consumes without thinking of the places of production, the people engaged in tropical industries, and the peculiar conditions under which these IV industries exist. To bring producer and consumer, therefore, together, to make them, if only for a time, sympathise with and understand each other, to get them to discuss their mutual obligations, and to forget the blunders and prejudices of byegone years, would lead, not only to more cordial sentiments, but to what is perhaps more im- portant, increased and more prosperous trade. From the time that Pitt awed a tumultuous House of Commons by crying, in stentorian ” tones, “ Sugar ! Sugar ! Sugar ! down to the much changed condi- tions of the present time, the fortunes of the West Indies have been largely concerned with the position in the markets of the world of that article which a recent Chancellor of the Exchequer described as “ the delight of youth and the solace of age.” The tropical planter wishes to convince his sugar-eating brother at home that the produce of the cane is infinitely superior in sweetness and nutritive qualities to the sickly stuff obtained from bounty-feed beet on the Continent of Europe. This understanding is likely to come about. There are other products in the West Indies besides sugar, as we shall see later on. And the mere fact of becoming acquainted, through pictures, photographs, and natural objects, with the beautiful scenery and interesting curiosities, appealing to the imagination of the general observer, the scientific thought of the ethnological student, and the large-heartedness of the philanthropist, cannot fail to widen the horizon of the insular English mind, and perhaps impress it with new suggestions of duty. Trade and commerce are, after all, the practical results of sentiment, and it is into the aspect of buyer and seller, of giving employment to English ships and English labour, and of affording outlets to English capital, that the whole question finally resolves itself. In this scene of Imperial fraternisation, Jamaica plays an important part. This Colony has always had a peculiar interest for the people of England. Its acquisition by Cromwell, the influence upon it of the naval and military operations of the succeeding 150 years, the rise of — ; ; V its prosperity, the slave trade and slavery, the effect of that social revolution known as emancipation, and the hopes entertained of the upward progress of the negro race—the peculiar exclusiveness of the old protective or “ Colonial ” system, the abandonment of this and the havoc caused by the admission into Great Britain on equal terms of foreign slave-grown sugar, the decline of the sugar industry, the forming of provision grounds, and the attention paid to the cultivation of other products—the long reign of the House of Assembly, until the riots of 1865 led to the abolition of Representative Government—the 18 years of Crown Government, and the new elective constitution under which the Colony is now placed as the result of Lord Derby’s “ new departure”—all these points constitute an historical record of no mean interest ; they explain the concern felt for the Colony by Englishmen in the past, and they afford a ground for a new and larger sympathy in the future. Nor, in forecasting what is to come, must we forget the likelihood of its again becoming a great entrepot of commerce when the Panama Canal, which is to unite two oceans and divert a large part of the sea traffic of the world, is an accomplished fact. Its perennial beauty and varied climate must make it in time a health resort for Europe and America, and the Laureate might have had some picture of the Jamaica hills in his mind when he wrote the following lines, which, although they may not be entirely accurate in detail, and although they miss some of the most delightful character- istics of the island, namely, its rivers, its picturesque ravines, and its many streams, may stand as a suggestion in outline of a tropical scene : “ The mountain wooded to the peak ; the lawns And winding glades high up like ways to heaven The slender coco’s drooping crown of plumes ; The lightning flash of insect and of bird The lustre of the long convolvuluses That coiled around the stately stems and ran Even to the limit of the land ; the glows And glories of the broad belt of the world.” VI Turning from these general considerations to a few words of practical explanation, it is necessary to state how the Jamaica people carried out their wish to be represented at the Exhibition. The Legis- lature necessarily had to vote a certain sum of money. The exhibits were collected in the island and forwarded by “ The Institute of Jamaica,” an admirable and well-managed Society, established by law, and one of whose duties it is “ to provide for the holding of exhibitions illustrative of the Industries of Jamaica.” It has charge of the museum, and indeed carries out the functions of the former “ Royal So&iety of Arts and Agriculture,’’ which exercised much influence in its time. Cordial assistance was also given in the collection of exhibits by Mr. D. Morris, himself a Governor of the Institute, as well as the head of the Botanic Gardens. This gentleman is now the Assistant-Director of Kew Gardens, and, since his recent arrival in England, has taken much interest in the Court. On April 10, 1886, I was appointed by His Excellency Sir Henry Norman, the Governor of the Colony, with the concurrence of the Jamaica Institute, to the important office of Honorary Commissioner for Jamaica at the Colonial and Indian Exhibition. I have gladly devoted much time to the arrangement of the exhibits sent from the Colony and others collected by me in England, and, when not present myself, have always had a representative in the Court, to give explanations to visitors. On May 1, the Prince of Wales paid an official visit to the Exhibition, and in examining the Jamaica Court, His Royal Highness expressed himself as highly satis- fied with its appearance. The Queen, upon her visit on May 21, was also graciously pleased to express her interest and approbation. Subsequent to the arrival of the exhibits from the Colony, there came a large number of copies of the “ Handbook compiled for the Governors of the Jamaica Institute, by Laurence R. Fyfe and A. C. Sinclair, compilers of the Official Handbook of Jamaica.” Accompany- ing these were copies of a detailed catalogue of all the articles sent for exhibition. These papers, so full of valuable information in regard to COURT. THE OF VIEW FRONT JAMAICA: Vll the history, condition and products of the Colony, were distributed and the copies soon exhausted. It was therefore thought desirable by me to reprint them, and place them together in one volume, with such particulars regarding the Court itself as might serve as a kind of general guide to visitors. I therefore hope that this book, which will be distributed gratuitously, will meet with the approval of His Excellency the Governor and the Governors of the Jamaica Institute, and will not only serve a temporary purpose but will constitute a permanent record of the Jamaica Court, such as may be referred to with pleasure by all who are interested in Jamaica, and keep alive for many years to come, so far as this island is concerned, the memory of the Colonial and Indian Exhibition of 1886.